Fall Wardrobe Staples

September 21, 2009

fall_fashion I can’t believe that summer is just about over and we’re rolling into fall. I’m from Southern California where the sun is an every day attraction, so when I moved to the Pac Northwest the rain, rain and more rain was a hardcore adjustment. One of the few remedies I found to brighten my days, was the wonderful year round fall wardrobe that took up the majority of space in my closet. When the winter blues hit, a new season was at the horizon with a pallet of new textures, colors and styles to brighten my day. In Cali, fall and winter sweaters were usually packed away in boxes for weekend winter trips to the ski lodge, where here and now, it’s my summer wardrobe that gets stored 9 months out of the year.

Having a year round fall wardrobe has taught me a few things (staples) that carry over season to season. The classic die-hard fashions that have earned the right to take up closet real estate throughout fall (and in my case, 9 months out of the year).

Cardigans – A Piece for All Looks
An elongated neutral-hued knit works well with pants, skirts, or dresses for day or night. The versatile separate can be worn zipped up, buttoned, or left undone. Don’t forget to layer up. A single cardigan can complete a look, but double them for a more trendy take. In layering your cardigans, mixing and matching long, short and everything in between will pull off the look you’re looking for. Cardigans come in all types of textures, from treated velvets, rich leathers, cashmere to luxe furs, and mixing cardigans with coats runs the gamut of materials for fall.

Mix in Color
Every shade from electric yellow to opulent orange made its way onto the runway this season but don’t forget you can always fall back on your classics. Classic fall colors like camels, rusts, gold tones, warm beige and deep reds. These traditional standby colors will last from season to season and the cost-per-wear component can’t be beat. This Fall you’ll see a series of coat silhouettes including the caplet and the trench, along with oversize styles and tailored numbers. Find the fit that’s right for you.

Print It
Most people think that florals are owned by Spring. This fall there’s nothing further from the truth. Lively florals, Liberty fabrics, exaggerated paisleys – anything goes this season, and patterns are where it’s at. Be Courageous with Color! The ultimate alternative to black, these vibrant canvases bring fun, feel-good fashion back into the mix. This bright, giddy fall fashion is a new one for me because (I don’t know if anyone else has noticed) but us L.A. born and bred find comfort and solace in black. There’s something so avant garde about our black leather, satins, and velvets that live in the mysteries of L.A. night life, but survive through the day to get there. Black has always been the ‘safe’ go-to for hiding flaws (I have flaws?), adding a flair of sophistication to whatever contrast we throw in the mix. But now, I’m just getting acquainted with prints, those horrid frightful bright colored prints that make our middle-aged hips look wider than the Mississippi (and our mothers warned us about) are IN this fall. I may not go out on a ledge on the prints this fall, or step off the ledge for that matter, but I thought I’d throw it in for good fair measure for the daring size 3′s.

I can’t help but wonder if those fabulous colorful (fall/winter??) prints are leftover bolts of fabric from Spring because of our economy, but that’s just my opinion (-:

Haute Hosiery you got to love! Designers paired prints with opaque tights, sheer versions, patterned picks, or nothing at all. Hosiery can be a fashion accent for short pants, dresses or skirts. Match a pair to a great pair of boots and school girl pleated skirt and layered cardigan and heads will turn.

Eccentric Extras new this fall, amp up your look with bejeweled bib necklaces, chandelier earrings, colored bead chokers, and lace-up booties, to name a few.

Day to Night
Ideal for an evening affair as well as a work event, the suit sends a sophisticated yet stylish message. Whether you prefer a lighter, more neutral tone, a playful print, or elegant ebony, this ensemble is eternally appropriate.

Menswear Moment
Masculinity also prevailed on the runways, and a monochrome pant look is the perfect way to make this trend come to life.

Feminine Quotient
For a sexier take, try a blazer with a subtly slit skirt or a slim-fitting pencil.

Add Accessories
The best way to individualize this classic look is to pair it with everything from a cheeky top hat to a more demure skinny belt depending on your body type of course.

Skinny Versus Slouchy Pants
Whether you prefer tight leggings or a loose style is more your speed, fall boasts winners in both silhouettes.

The Long and Short of It
Trousers hit at all lengths for autumn, both stovepipes and cropped just above the ankle.

Luxury Reigns
Leather, satin, and even bits of shine were the materials of choice for pants this fall.

Matches Made in Heaven
Cool coats, low-key T-shirts, and boyfriend blazers are just some of the many options to pair with pants for fall.

Back to Basics
Shades of gray, navy, black, and other classic tones prevailed.

Endlessly Chic in White
It’s the best investment piece for the season. The catchall top can be worn with almost anything, and it never goes out of style. Frilly Versus Straightforward – Designers excelled at creating the optimal streamlined button-down as well as more feminine versions complete with lace, embellishment, high collars, and even feathers. White tops are a classic and necessary investment. This is one that can carry through the year so you can splurge! Regardless of your age, a great white top is fab for any age, from your early 20s to your late 70s, everyone can pull off this easy-to-wear number. Don’t outrule bright white when shopping for fall, the crisp color complements every complexion and give any ensemble a clean feel. If you plan on going out to eat and have a tendency to slurp your pasta (like I do), you may want to layer it with a lightweight cardigan or velvet jacket.